Healthcare in New Jersey

Welcome to CSI-NJ’s health care portal, where we will share facts about New Jersey’s population and state of health care, and the work of our scholars on ways to improve lives through free-market policies.

New Jersey has one of the most unique populations in the United States. We are the nation’s 11th-most populous state, and our population density is higher than all other states. As a whole, New Jersey is wealthier, more diverse and slightly younger than the national population.

New Jersey At A Glance

Category

Total

U.S. Rank

Total Population

8,591,200

11

Population in Poverty

1,244,000

14

Percentage 65+

13%

21

Median Annual Income

$64,143

4

Diversity

White

59%

41

Black

13%

17

Hispanic

19%

7

Other

9%

10

Percentage in Medicare

15%

30

Percentage in Medicaid

11%

49

Uninsured Population

15%

29

Health Spending Per Capita

$5,807

13

Sources: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Center for Disease Control and U.S. Census Bureau

Coverage via Private Insurance Strong in New Jersey

Garden State residents are more likely than the national average to attain their health insurance on the private market. Almost 60% of New Jerseyans have health insurance through their employer, which is about 10% higher than the national average. As a result, we are also among the lowest in terms of the percentage of the population enrolled in Medicaid or other public assistance programs.

CSI-NJ Research

The Common Sense Institute of New Jersey has generated research and commentaries to policy makers and the public regarding ways to improve health care outcomes while keeping costs down. Dr. Poonam Alaigh, former Health and Human Services Commissioner recently joined the Institute’s Board of Directors. Some of our work is linked below.

Helpful Government Reports

More than 20% of New Jerseyans are foreign born, presenting unique challenges to our health care system. In March 2011, the Department of Health and Senior Services generated research on the medical and cultural changes needed to ensure quality care for all. That report, The Health of the Newest New Jerseyans is available at this link.

In September 2011, the Christie Administration submitted an application for a “global waiver” from federal Medicaid rules. Much of the state’s Medicaid program is based on a fee-for-service model that has not generated better outcomes and is increasingly costly to taxpayers. The application for the five-year waiver is available here.